Fiber-reinforced bowling pin



Jan. 10, 1950 M. P. MONTERO FIBER-REINFORCED BOWLING PIN Filed DSC. 17,1947 Patented Jan. 10, 195) NITED STATES PATENToFFIcE 2,494,351FIBER-REINFORCED BOWLING PIN Modesto P. Montero, Newark, N. J.Application Decanter` 17, 1947, serial No. 792,145

1 claim.y (o1. 27s-s2) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in bowling pins.

Heretofore attempts have been made to construct bowling pins moredurable than the usual wooden bowling pins. However, these priorattempts did not meet `with material commercial success for numerousreasons. If the materials from which they were constructed were vmoredurable, the sound of the pins when struck with the bowling ball in theplaying of a match was not satisfactory. If the sound Was satisfactorythen the material did not possess all desirable physical properties ofstrength, durability, etc. A

This invention proposes a new and improved bowling pin and a method forits construction which will have a satisfactory sound when struck by thebowling ball during play, and which will be more durable than pinsheretofore used.

The invention proposes to -accomplish the main objects stated in theprior paragraph by making use of a strip of vulcanized bre bonded aroundthe central bellied body portion of the pin. A certain substance isproposed for bonding the vulcanized fibre strip in position to eliminateair spaces and pockets which otherwise would give the pin a hollowsound, or a split sound, when struck by' a bowling ball, which soundsare highly objectionable to 'master players.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a bowling pin asdescribed which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma,- terial part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the body portion of a bowling pinformed with a circumferential groove required for constructing thebowling pin in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a `fragmentary .perspective view of a strip of vulcanizedfibre used in the construction of the new bowling pin.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged central vertical sectional view of anunfinished bowling pin constructed from the body portion illustrated inFig. 1 upon which the vulcanized fibre strip, illustrated in Fig. 2, hasbeen applied.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating thefinished bowling pin.

The construction of the new and improved bowling pin may be bestunderstood by studying the method by which it is constructed. A woodenbowling pin body portion I of standard form has a circumferential grooveI I formed in the portion which is normally the central bellied portionof the bowling pin.: I'Ihe bowling pin body portion .If the bowling pinbody portion l0 ismade from an old bowling pin that is being renished,then the bellied central portion I5 is turned down. If the bowling pinbody portion I0 is a new one it may be made from` a smaller size of woodstock than the usual allwooden bowling pin and turned down into therequiredshape.

Fig. 2 illustratesy astrip of vulcanized fibre I6. Any of the well knownvulcanized fibre strip ina-- terials now on the'm'arket may be used.This material has Va high impact strength, is arc i resistant, and Visformable and ma-chinable. It is proposed that the strip I6 be woundaround the circumferential groove II. First the end portion of the stripI6 should be beveled, preferablyA by sanding. The line AB divides off asection of the end portion of said strip I6. The bevel should lbe formedfromthe line AB tothe left hand end ofthe strip lffThen the .vulcanizedbre strip I6 is softened, preferably with steam. A coating of aspecially prepared animal glue is applied to the strip I6 and it iswound around and around in the groove l I to the shape illustrated inFig. 3. The strip I6 must be long enough so that it can be wound arounda number of times to a diameter equal to or slightly greater than thenormal large diameter of the central bellied body portion of the bowlingpin.

It is very important that the vulcanized i'lbre strip I6 be applied inposition in a manner so that there are no air spaces or air pocketsbetween the Wound layers thereof, because such spaces or pockets willinterfere with the sound of the pin when struck by a bowling ball. Airspaces and pockets will give the pin a hollow or split sound. I havediscovered that if ordinary animal glue is used it is virtuallyimpossible to avoid the existence of spaces or air pockets between thewound layers of the vulcanized fibre strip. I have furthermorediscovered that all spaces and air pockets can be eliminated if thewound on vulcanized fibre strip yis caused to.

swell so as .to close all spaces and alr pockets and is .furthermorecaused to become set in its enlarged condition. I accomplish this byadding an alkali to the glue to cause the vulcanized fibre strip toswell, and by adding formaldehyde to the glue to set the swollenvulcanized fibre strip and prevent it from contracting when the gluedrys.

In order to better understand the invention one formula-fof 'fglue'willbe given.A Take 9 lbs. of dry animal glue and about l lb. offormaldehydeand add the necessary Water and boil to.

produce a glue of proper consistency. Then add an alkali, like carbonateof soda'f'to raise'thepI-I of the prepared glue to a pH of fromv 8 tol0.

While this is the particular formulaihavesed successfully it should beunderstod ythat any" specially prepared animal glue would bev satis-`:fe'rred embodiment of my invention, it is to be factory provided it isprepared with formalde- Ain itsjtvudfconuiienjhnebewung pinl bodyportion; When suitairlfyV dried :and bonded fthe fjectjfng parmensofthejwegnufvuicanized'fibre lstripA i F6; "are 'machined-down intoj the iproper central bellie 'bodyportinfshape The bowling en;anestesia-wiespfciriveaceung, 8 `of"j,pairit,I or others uiifablej` protective orcovering material;

*It as sisef-advisablethatetpefbowling pin be eci-.ive busningfzeof oiseIconstruction herein disclosed and the right is'es'er'vedtoall changesand modications com- `within^th'e:sc,bpe=0f the invention as definedMoDEsfro P: y-1v1oNlTEao- :REFERENGESY CITED A*riieffeuewingjfefereesare f reeed 1n the

